Free Fall

Free Fall, designed by Ed Krynski and manufactured by Gottlieb in October 1974, is a single-player electro-mechanical game with a skydiving and parachuting theme. Produced in a confirmed run of just 650 units, it is the Add-A-Ball version of the game: the replay version is Gottlieb's 1974 'Sky Jump', and a separate Add-A-Ball version for export to Italy was released as 'Sky Dive'.

Gameplay-wise, Free Fall features two flippers, three pop bumpers, two slingshots, a 7-bank of drop targets, and six standup targets. The big drop target bank is the heart of the game, challenging players to clear all seven targets with accurate shooting.

Gordon Morison's artwork brings the skydiving theme to life in the vibrant style typical of 1970s Gottlieb design. The game also hides a charming piece of trivia: Wayne Neyens revealed that the registration number N188PA on the backglass airplane belongs to a real plane owned by his son at the time — Neyens asked the artist to include it as a lark. With its low production run and fun backstory, Free Fall is an appealing piece of mid-1970s Gottlieb history.